Connor Morgan was never a big fan of school. “When I was in high school, I wasn’t a great student—didn’t do the homework.” But don’t take that to mean that Connor isn’t a hard worker. His senior year, he became a business owner. “My teacher needed someone to video a wedding at the last minute, so I said sure. Then I filled in for another wedding videographer who got into an accident before a shoot. It wasn’t until wedding three that I figured I had something.”

From there, Eighteen Mile Media was born. And ignited an entrepreneurial spirit Connor never knew he had.

But being a student and an entrepreneur isn’t easy. “My freshman year at Pace, things really took off, and I was juggling going to school with running the business. I almost left. But being in the supportive Pace Community helped me get out of the burnout.” Connor was blown away by both the community and the drive of Pace people. “Everyone seemed like they were happy to be there, not just going through the motions to get a piece of paper. Pace students are constantly learning and finding a way to make a really great future for ourselves. It’s infectious.” On top of his classes and the videography business, Connor took on becoming a Pace Orientation Leader for the summer and fostered some deep friendships along the way.

“Pace students are constantly learning and finding a way to make a really great future for ourselves. It’s infectious.”

And Connor didn’t just find a supportive academic community at Pace—he also found support for his business that helped him grow as an entrepreneur and a person. “When the new president took office, I filmed the video that introduced him to the school. That opened the door to the commercial world.” Since then, Connor has shot several videos for Pace University and has fostered close relationships with the staff and administration. “I just spoke at my high school’s career day—I showed my first video, and then my most recent video, and the students were amazed to see the difference. I’ve seen how much growth has come out of this. Pace gave me the opportunity to grow from real professional experience.”

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And Connor’s opportunities have only multiplied. In 2019, Hillary Clinton paid a visit to Pace, and Connor was the only available photographer on campus. So, they called him up to cover it. “She reposted my photo on her Instagram, and my watermark was on the photo. It was amazing!” In 2021, he was invited to be part of the audio team for the halftime show at Super Bowl LIV in Miami. “Even though I wasn’t there with a camera, it was awesome to watch the camera crews and see the amount of prep work that goes into the event. I had to miss a week of school to make it there, but my professors at Pace were so supportive and wanted me to take advantage of the opportunity.”

Connor knows his story isn’t conventional, but what he loves so much about Pace is that they were able to meet him where he was and show him that he determines what makes a great college student experience. In 2020, and again in 2021, Connor recorded and produced Pace’s Commencement ceremony, an experience that he says kick-started his interest in live-to-tape broadcasts.

“I think I might be the only person in the world who can say they made their own graduation on this scale,” he says, thinking back on the mix of in-person and virtual components during Commencement 2021. He was calling the shots behind the camera and crossed the stage all in the same day. Amazingly, that experience helped him land another gig with the NFL. “I was there for all of Super Bowl week and I’m there—the youngest person by far—with 15 major NFL players and everyone seemed really impressed with the skills I gained from doing graduation at Pace.” He produced Taste of the NFL, which premiered Super Bowl Sunday.

In the year since graduation, Connor has moved to Los Angeles where he’s branched out 18 Mile Media doing live event and commercial work, in addition to managing a group of individual content creators with 1M+ YouTube subscribers. “I made my own future,” he says. “Pace helped me get there.”

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Faculty Spotlight: Andrew O. Coggins, Jr.

Management and Management Science Department

We sat down for a Q&A with Dr. Andrew Coggins of the Management and Management Science Department, who joined Pace 12 years ago. We learned about his naval career, research interests, teaching style, and how he became an international expert within the cruise/maritime industry.

Why management?

My interest is in the cruise industry, which falls within the tourism industry. I could have studied the industry from a historical or financial perspective, but management includes operations and current issues.

Why Lubin/Pace?

My PhD and previous teaching experience was in Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) and HTM is a concentration within the Management Department. I also chose Lubin/Pace because I was returning to the U.S. from teaching in Hong Kong and wanted to be close to my aging father in White Plains. In addition, I knew Professor Claudia Green, PhD, from my time at Virginia Tech.

What are your research interests/areas?

Travel and tourism management, focusing on the cruise industry, transportation, hospitality design, the maritime industry

Why is it important to advance research in this area or these areas?

The hospitality industry is the world's largest or second largest industry and people need to be aware of it. Almost everything we eat, use, wear—or their raw materials—have at some point in the process traveled on ships. The maritime industry makes our lifestyle possible and most people are unaware of this.

Almost everything we eat, use, wear—or their raw materials—have at some point in the process traveled on ships. The maritime industry makes our lifestyle possible.

What do students learn in your classroom?

All of my classes feature team projects and a presentation. When possible, I try to give my students a chance express creativity through projects, like converting a brownstone into a hotel or restaurant or planning a cruise out of New York City and designing its brochure. When the project involves in-depth reporting on specific companies, I bring in a librarian to teach how to conduct research on Pace's business databases.

Discuss your professional path and its impact on how you teach and what you teach.

I am a retired U.S. Navy Commander with sea-going, international, and diplomatic service. I am also a cancer survivor. Overall, I bring a different perspective to the classroom. My teaching style is relatively laid-back with a heavy focus on learning versus grades. I work hard to ensure my students learn and successfully complete the course.

What are some challenges you had to overcome to get to where you are today?

Challenges I had to overcome were: learning to swim, being an African-American naval officer in the 1970s, successfully completing the Admiral Staff's course at the German Armed Forces Staff College in Hamburg, completing my MSM at Boston University Brussels while working full time, establishing myself as a well-respected expert within the cruise/maritime industry, completing my PhD after I left the Navy with a daughter at a private liberal arts college, and battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Of which triumph are you most proud?

I am most proud of my family, the students I've helped over the years, my Honor Cross in Silver from Germany, my dissertation—"What makes a passenger ship a legend?," and being awarded Best International Paper by Internationale Tourismusboerse Berlin (ITB), the world's largest annual travel trade fair, in 2006.

What is the single most important lesson you'd like to impart to your students?

Perseverance. Be like a ship in a storm: Keep going—even if you have to slow down, keep going, don't sink!

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

Working at Lubin means working with fantastic students. I love the diversity of the student body and being able to help my students achieve their dreams.

You are an internationally known cruise industry expert whose expertise has been called on by major media outlets, including MSNBC, The New York Times, and NPR. From where does your passion for the industry emanate?

I have loved ships as far back as I can remember. My father and three of my grandparents came to this country on ships. My maternal grandmother even made two transatlantic crossings during WWI. I guess it runs in the family. I love all ships, but I am most passionate about passenger ships. I guess this is because I like people.

Courses Dr. Coggins teaches:

BUS 101: Contemporary Business Practice; MGT 150: Managerial and Organizational Concepts; MGT 208: Travel and Tourism Management; MGT 306: Service Quality Management; MGT 307: Hotel Management; MGT 310: Safety and Security in Hospitality; MGT 311: Hospitality Facilities Design and Management; MGT 313: Cruise Industry Management; MGT 340: International Management; MGT 393: Hospitality Internship; MGT 394A: Management Internship; and UNV 101: Introduction to University Life.

Get in touch with Dr. Coggins

Aishna Kumar

Digital Analyst, Nagarro

Class of 2022
BBA in Digital Marketing with a minor in Business Analytics

Member Of: Dean's List, Pforzheimer Honors College, American Marketing Association

We interviewed Aishna Kumar '22, a Pforzheimer Honors College student originally from Japan, who studied abroad in Barcelona, landed a dream internship at Nike, and took on a leadership role in Pace's chapter of the American Marketing Association.

Why did you choose Pace University and the Lubin School of Business?

While completing my college applications, my sister, who graduated from Lubin, insisted that I apply to Pace University. She praised Lubin and the Pforzheimer Honors College. As I did my research on Pace, Lubin's efforts to ensure students are ready for the real world really stood out to me; I could not wait to take advantage of the various personal branding and career building opportunities offered at Pace.

I believe choosing Pace is one of the best decisions I have made. Not only is Pace located in the most diverse city, it is also where all business students dream of building their career. During my time at Pace, I have been provided with an environment and support system that have allowed me to maintain a balance between my academic, social, and professional life.

Tell us a bit about being an international student at Pace.

As an international student, I came to the United States from Japan with very little knowledge about the culture and had to quickly adjust to a completely new country while also figuring out how to smoothly transition into a university setting. Pace's warm welcome and supportive staff made it very easy to feel at home, even while I was far away from home. At Pace, I met my closest friends from all around the world in international students orientation during my freshman year. Overall, Pace's efforts to celebrate different cultural holidays has made me feel a lot more in touch with my culture.

How has the Pforzheimer Honors College benefited you?

The Pforzheimer Honors College has provided me with a tight-knit community and I have been able to surround myself with peers who are just as motivated to succeed as I am. This community has pushed me to do better and become better by making me compete with myself rather than others. With the support of the Honors Program staff, I have always felt at ease during times of stress and panic, whether it be during the registration season or when I have any academic-related inconveniences.

What has been your favorite opportunity offered at Pace?

I spontaneously decided to study abroad in Barcelona during the Spring 2020 semester, and although the pandemic cut my time in Barcelona short, it was one of the most life-changing experiences I have had. I would highly recommend Lubin students look into studying abroad because as business students it is so important to be able to adapt to new environments and interact with people from different backgrounds. Studying abroad will not only help you build these skills, but it will also leave you with a lifetime of memories.

Do you have any advice for Lubin students?

Take advantage of your time at Pace by stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring your potential. There are so many clubs, networking events, and workshops offered at Pace that can assist you in building your professional skills as well as your personal brand. Connect with other students and maintain a good relationship with your professors because someday they may be able to tell you about a potential opportunity.

In my freshman year, my BUS 101 professor and the Career Services Resume Workshop helped me land my first internship. In my sophomore year, I studied abroad in Barcelona where I was able to not only challenge myself, but also build transferable skills. In my junior year, I worked towards obtaining online certifications and landed my dream internship at Nike in Tokyo. In my senior year, I became the Chief Communications Coordinator of Pace's student chapter of the American Marketing Association.

Your time here is the best time for you to try out new things, and right now is when you will be provided with great opportunities and resources, so make the most of them!

Through the resources and opportunities that Lubin offers, I have been able to push myself to my highest potential and expand my personal and professional network. Thanks to Lubin's constant encouragement to help students grow and succeed, I feel prepared to enter the real world as a professional.

What does #LubinLife mean to you?

#LubinLife to me means opportunities. At Lubin, I have been surrounded by so many talented and motivated students who have so much to offer, as well as highly qualified and well-connected faculty that are always there to provide support and advice. Through the resources and opportunities that Lubin offers, I have been able to push myself to my highest potential and expand my personal and professional network. Thanks to Lubin's constant encouragement to help students grow and succeed, I feel prepared to enter the real world as a professional.

Three executives with an array of business experience in healthcare, finance, and law have joined Pace University’s Board of Trustees, the University today announced.

The new trustees are Michael DiSimone, president, and CEO of PayFlex; Audrey Murphy, executive vice president and chief legal officer of Hackensack Meridian Health; and Zubeen Shroff, managing director of Galen Partners.

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In making the announcement, Board Chairman Rob Sands said each new trustee brings a great deal of experience to the university and understands Pace University’s central mission of creating opportunities for students through education.

“Audrey, Michael, and Zubeen are committed to Pace’s mission of creating opportunities for our students – now and throughout their careers,” said Sands. “We welcome them to our Board of Trustees and are eager to benefit from their expertise, vision, and leadership.”

The new trustees are joining the board at an exciting time at Pace University. Pace continues to be hyper-focused on experiential learning, career readiness, diversity and inclusion, and providing a strong return on investment to its students while investing significantly in its nationally acclaimed programs such as its School of Performing Arts, College of Health Professions, Seidenberg School of Computer Information Systems, and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, which this year was again ranked as the No. 1 environmental law program in the country.

Furthermore, the university continues to broaden its academic offerings that align with growing market demands and it has plans of transforming Lienhard Hall, home to its College of Health Professions on the Pleasantville campus, into a modernized Healthcare Hub that will add important programming for students preparing for careers in the region’s burgeoning healthcare and biotechnology sector.

As president and CEO of PayFlex, Michael DiSimone leads the organization with the goal of making it simple to plan, save and pay for personal well-being. He is most passionate about helping people optimize their health ambitions and health care savings while delivering exceptional service to members. Prior to leading PayFlex, he served as vice president, Global Business Solutions for Human Resources, at Aetna. He has also worked in leadership positions at Mercer, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Affiliated Computer Services. He holds a B.B.A. in accounting and an M.B.A. in finance from Pace University. He completed executive education programs in management and leadership at Columbia University. DiSimone established a scholarship at Pace, and in 2021 the university presented him with the Changemakers in Healthcare Award.

He has three children: Michael Jr., Nicholas, and Laura. His two sons also graduated from Pace. DiSimone lives in Valley Cottage, N.Y. with his wife Jennifer.

“I know first-hand the value of a Pace education,” said DiSimone. “It helped open doors and prepared me for a rewarding and fulfilling career. I look forward to working with Pace leadership and my colleagues on the Board of Trustees to make a meaningful contribution to Pace University.”

Audrey Murphy serves Hackensack Meridian Health as Executive Vice President, Co-Chief Legal Officer, and Chief Officer, Team Member Health and Safety. In her role as Co-Chief Legal Officer, her direct network responsibilities include the Enterprise Risk Management Program, the Physician Enterprise, the regional CTS programs, the Foundations, all academic programs, including the School of Medicine, the vast insurance programs and captives, Research, and the Center for Discovery and Innovation and all non-strategic litigation. As Chief Officer, Team Member Health and Safety, Murphy is responsible for Workplace Health and Safety, The Keeping America Safe Program, Corporate Wellness, Network Environmental Safety, Network Security, and Emergency Management.

Prior to joining Hackensack University Medical Center, Murphy worked as a critical care nurse, nurse manager, supervisor, and clinical specialist. She began her legal career at Hackensack UMC as associate counsel and director of risk management in 1992. She earned her J.D. from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace as well as a B.S.N. and M.S.N. degrees from Pace’s College of Health Professions. She is married to William Johnson and has three children; Marilyn, Harrison, and Kelly. They reside in Washington Township, N.J.

“The education I received at Pace has shaped my career,” said Murphy. “I’m really excited to join Pace University’s Board of Trustees and look forward to helping guide its direction so that generations of students have opportunities to excel in college and their careers.”

Zubeen Shroff is managing director of Galen Partners, a leading healthcare growth equity investment firm founded in 1990. With over 30 years of experience in building healthcare companies, Shroff has acquired deep expertise, and demonstrated strong leadership in working with entrepreneurs to maximize shareholder value in the following areas: specialty pharmaceuticals, medical imaging, therapeutic devices, diagnostics, capital equipment, specialty supplies distribution, consumer driven healthcare, insurance & payor services, homecare-based solutions and technology enabled services. Prior to joining Galen in 1997, Shroff was a principal at The Wilkerson Group, a leading medical products management consulting firm that was sold to IBM.

He started his career at Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals, where he directed marketing, sales, and Phase IV clinical development for the company’s high growth biotech business in France and was responsible for the launch of alpha-Interferon in several new indications. Shroff serves as an advisor to several not-for-profit institutions: He is chairman for WMC Health, the $2.5 Billion healthcare system serving Hudson Valley New York residents; he is the former chair, and current member, of the Boston University School for Public Health Dean’s Advisory Board. In addition, Shroff is a Fellow of the NY Academy of Medicine.

Shroff earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School and a B.A. in Biological Science from Boston University. A 45-year resident of the Hudson Valley, Shroff is committed to workforce development in the region.

“Pace University is well positioned in the marketplace,” said Shroff. “I believe in its mission, and I am eager to work with my colleagues on the Board of Trustees to help make a significant contribution.”

About Pace University

Pace University has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success as a result of its unique program that combines rigorous academics and real-world experiences. Pace is ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides. From its beginnings as an accounting school in 1906, Pace has grown to three campuses, enrolling 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 150 majors and programs, across a range of disciplines: arts, sciences, business, health care, technology, law, education, and more. The university also has one of the most competitive performing arts programs in the country. Pace has a signature, newly renovated campus in New York City, located in the heart of vibrant Lower Manhattan, next to Wall Street and City Hall, and two campuses in Westchester County, New York: a 200-acre picturesque Pleasantville Campus and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains.

Dyson College Assistant Professor of Psychology Courtney Gosnell, PhD, has long been interested in the interpersonal nuances of relationships. Much of her research has been focused on exploring what allows relationships to thrive and prosper, and how individual goals can positively or negatively impact relationships. Yet over the past several years, she couldn’t help but notice that politics was increasingly becoming personal.

She also noticed a dearth of research in this domain—whereas there is considerable work done about how members of different political affiliations feel about one another, it didn’t necessarily go deeper.

“There’s been a lot of research about how Democrats feel about Republicans and vice-versa, but less work looking at what this looks like in the context of family relationships, or friendships,” notes Gosnell.

In the fall of 2019, Gosnell was awarded a grant that enabled her to assemble a group of seven undergraduate students to further work on this research—first in a reading-intensive and discussion-based setting that would enable the students to gain a feel of what a graduate school seminar might be like—and later on, through applying discussion to formulating an original research idea.

One of the participating students, Sarahlouise Baldwin ’22, found the discussion sessions extremely intellectually stimulating, adding a layer to her academic experience that, as a biology major, she wouldn’t necessarily experience without this unique research opportunity.

“There’s been a lot of research about how Democrats feel about Republicans and vice-versa, but less work looking at what this looks like in the context of family relationships, or friendships,” notes Gosnell.

“Before we knew what the study was going to be, we were having these meetings discussing current affairs, different things we were seeing in media. Eventually, we started questioning each other and ourselves,” says Baldwin. “Why do some people, and some of us, maintain these relationships when we know we wouldn’t willingly start a relationship with someone else with different views?”

That spring, the group, which included Baldwin, Anjolee Spence ’22, Cassandra McKenna ’20, Connor Wills ’20, Alyssa Monty ’22, Shannon Roberson ’22, and Pace graduate student Syed Hasan formulated their discussions into a research idea that would contribute to the academic literature. With Gosnell’s guidance, the group decided to focus on the concept of gratitude—namely, how gratitude can be a driving force for maintaining close relationships across the ever-widening political divide.

“There's a whole academic literature regarding gratitude—on how gratitude helps us connect to people in our close relationships,” says Gosnell. “We knew from our initial work, people might maintain relationships with family members because ‘it’s my mom, she’s done so much for me.’ Maybe gratitude is this mechanism which allows us to be open and understanding.”

Just as the group was planning on initiating the research, the pandemic hit—thus delaying the study. Yet, the project was able to move forward a few months later thanks to the dedication of Baldwin and Spence, who dedicated hours during the summers of 2020 and 2021 to conducting the research, carrying out analysis and conducting rounds of coding.

As the research became more developed at the end of this past summer, the group began thinking about venues to present their findings. The project, titled “The Influence of Gratitude on Close Relationships with Opposing Political Affiliation” was accepted to the prestigious Posters on the Hill presentation sponsored by the nationally based Council on Undergraduate Research. Baldwin, who is likely the first Pace student to ever present at this conference, shared her findings with congressional leadership and staff when she presented on April 27.

"I was so grateful for the experience. Although it was nerve-racking, I’ve become really comfortable with the research and enjoy talking about it," notes Baldwin. "This was a unique opportunity, and I am glad I was able to do something of this caliber with our work before I graduate."

"This was a unique opportunity, and I am glad I was able to do something of this caliber with our work before I graduate."

Although Baldwin is not looking to go into politics or psychology with her biology degree after Commencement this year, she views this research as an invaluable component of her Pace education, and one that will undoubtedly help her gain greater perspective in both her professional and personal life.

“As someone who is hoping to go into the medical field, I’ve gotten questions before as to why I’m so invested in research in political psychology,” said Baldwin. “I believe that this research is very important and fundamental to understanding our interaction with others, and the way that our own emotions and feelings can influence how and why we interact with people.”

Gosnell hopes that continuing to explore this topic and promoting their teams’ findings could potentially spur applications to help reduce polarization; and at the very least, underscore the complexity of individuals and the necessity of reaching common ground despite political differences.

“Ideally, if we want to come together and not be so polarized as a country, it takes a little bit of understanding of different perspectives. It’s hard to do that when you feel like it’s my group vs. another group, but easier when you have, say, a cousin or a parent who has these different views,” notes Gosnell. “If I maintain this type of relationship it doesn’t mean I’m going to adapt their views, but it gives us a better understanding, promotes discussion, and makes it less of an us vs. them situation.”

“If I had to give advice for someone who was coming into Pace, it would be this: you have to take risks, you have to put yourself out there, and you can’t be afraid of the results.”

These are the words of School of Education student Naya Rivera ’22, set to graduate this month with a combined degree—a bachelor’s in adolescent education-biology, and a master’s in special education. When Rivera walks across the stage at Commencement, she will do so as one of the more accomplished SOE students in recent memory. She’s been able to balance her exceptional academic pedigree (She will graduate with a near-perfect 3.97 GPA) with a wealth of impactful extracurricular activities—that range from education-based research, to tutoring, to basketball.

And by basketball, we mean that Rivera, amidst all her impressive academic achievements, was the co-captain and key member of the Pace Women’s basketball team—and helped lead the Setters move all the way to the Elite Eight this season, cementing herself and the team in Pace basketball history. Considering that Rivera tore her ACL in high school and was strongly weighing walking away from the sport, the very decision to play certainly qualifies as a risk; one that she is supremely glad she took.

“Basketball has been amazing for me,” says Rivera. “It gave me an opportunity to come to this school and gain these incredible experiences and make lifelong friends, faculty mentors, coaches, all of these things I didn’t know I was going to have.”

Off the court, Rivera has been deliberate about understanding what it takes to be an exceptional educator. She has gained a considerable amount of classroom experience as a technology teacher in the Ossining school district, where she started as a volunteer and withstood the many challenges of teaching during the pandemic first-hand. She’s also conducted invaluable research alongside faculty mentors including Jennifer Pankowski, EdD, developing teaching modules that explicitly raise social justice and race in the context of these interactions, aiming to elevate equity in the work of teacher education. For this work, Rivera was selected to present at the American Education Research Association, considered one of the premier conferences in the field.

“People are listening, you feel seen as a student, you get opportunities to see your ideas in action. And that has to do with the research as well,” says Rivera. “It’s very empowering to have people who believe in you, and take a risk on you, because you want change.”

“People are listening, you feel seen as a student, you get opportunities to see your ideas in action. And that has to do with the research as well,” says Rivera. “It’s very empowering to have people who believe in you, and take a risk on you, because you want change.”

As she moves from the student-side of the classroom to the educator-side, she hopes to tackle the research-to-education gap—recognizing that for all the great theoretical work being done, it’s not always easy to apply new teaching techniques into classrooms. Rivera is intent on changing this reality and is committed to taking applying novel educational techniques to foster lasting educational improvement.

“We have a huge research-to-practice gap,” says Rivera. “I want to see that work in the field. I want to be someone that institutes new things. I don’t want to be the type of teacher that continues to do the same things that do not work.”

As for the future? Rivera hopes to embark on her teaching career soon—and then, after many years of experience in the classroom and building lasting bonds with students, fellow educators, and the school community—moving toward school leadership as a principal.

“In five years, I could see myself still being a teacher, but down the line I want to be a principal. I want to take the time that I can to build those relationships. People are made through the interactions they have with people.”

With Rivera’s achievement in her Pace career combined with the penchant for leadership she’s already shown, it’s not difficult to envision her reaching all of her goals and then some. All of which she credits to simply putting herself out there—and being willing to try new things, no matter the outcome.

“Just coming to Pace, having the opportunity to put myself in a situation where I was uncomfortable, allowed me to grow so much as a person and as an individual. I love it.”